1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Sugar and PMR

Posted by charlotte61 @charlotte61, Dec 11, 2023

Has anyone else found that sugar worsens their PMR symptoms? I've tried cutting the sugar in my diet to an absolute minimum, and it seemed to be helping with my symptoms, even as I'm working at tapering off prednisone at the same time. However, I noticed that the two times I fell off the wagon lately, and indulged in a sweet treat, I ended up feeling more soreness and stiffness over the following couple of days. The most recent was a big piece of cheesecake I ate at a friend's house on Saturday night. Yesterday and today, I've felt stiffer and more sore than I have over the last few weeks. I did some Googling, and came up with this article that also talks about the link between sugar and inflammation, specifically PMR: https://www.whatispolymyalgia.com/diet-nutrition/sugar-top-inflammatory-food-pmr/. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed this connection. For myself, I'm finding that gluten is also a culprit -- the cheesecake, as well as the buttertart I ate on the first occasion, both contained gluten as well as a lot of sugar.

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charlotte61 | @charlotte61 | Mar 13 1:39pm
In reply to @debbie2024 "I did some reading on this MSM and it sounds better than chemical drugs. It appears..." + (show)
@debbie2024

I did some reading on this MSM and it sounds better than chemical drugs. It appears to be all-natural and you can buy it right off the shelf.

Jump to this post

I use the AOR brand -- it seems to be a higher quality product than a lot of the others. It's not cheap, though.

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formerpaa70 | @formerpaa70 | Mar 13 5:33pm
In reply to @charlotte61 "MSM is short for Methylsulfonylmethane, which is a natural compound found in some foods. As a..." + (show)
@charlotte61

MSM is short for Methylsulfonylmethane, which is a natural compound found in some foods. As a supplement, it's often used in combination with glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis and other joint issues, but it's also supposed to be helpful for PMR, according to my naturopath and some online research I've done. I have noticed some difference since I've been on it, although it took a couple of months to take effect. It's not a cure, of course, but I do find it helpful.

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I am 2 weeks on a supplement which includes MSM. I def feel less pain. I'm going to stop it for a few days to see if it's actually working

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1 reply
pb50 | @pb50 | Mar 13 7:10pm
In reply to @jixster "I am converting to a Keto diet - which eliminates actual sugar but allows a minimal..." + (show)
@jixster

I am converting to a Keto diet - which eliminates actual sugar but allows a minimal amount of carbs and after 4 days I have noticed a difference - I have less morning aches and stiffness - it’s definitely a method to reduce morning aches and pain.

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Oh it’s definitely Bad on any kind of inflammation.

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charlotte61 | @charlotte61 | Mar 14 11:57am
In reply to @formerpaa70 "I am 2 weeks on a supplement which includes MSM. I def feel less pain. I'm..." + (show)
@formerpaa70

I am 2 weeks on a supplement which includes MSM. I def feel less pain. I'm going to stop it for a few days to see if it's actually working

Jump to this post

Glad to hear the MSM is working for you! I was skeptical at first, but it does seem to be making a difference, and is helping me taper my prednisone more successfully than the first two attempts.

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stevieb | @stevieb | May 8 2:22pm

I keep forgetting to include this in other writings:
Sugar.
I have the most incredibly bad flares, even when I consume a relatively small amount of sugar.
But who ever heard of consuming a "relatively small amount of sugar"?!

And it's in almost everything that comes out of a grocery store. So primarily for me it's things with refined sugar. I have bread on some occasions. And I drink orange juice.

But I sometimes double think myself if I am a hypchondriac, because of the viciousness of a flare from some cherries Garcia, or fig newtons. ...... Actually I start out with 4 fig newtons, and always end up finishing the pack within the day.

When I was first diagnosed with PMR and flaring everyday or every other, and decided to by process of elimination to methodically pair my diet down to protein, greens, and
grains .... when I stopped sugar it was an immediately obvious reduction in the frequency of pains.
When my wife and I decided to empty everything in our pantry with sugar, .... It was absurd. Even the frozen pizza has sugar.
The poisoning of society by the advertising industry for alcohol, to tobacco, and sugar is another forum though!

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3 replies
pb50 | @pb50 | May 8 7:45pm
In reply to @stevieb "I keep forgetting to include this in other writings: Sugar. I have the most incredibly bad..." + (show)
@stevieb

I keep forgetting to include this in other writings:
Sugar.
I have the most incredibly bad flares, even when I consume a relatively small amount of sugar.
But who ever heard of consuming a "relatively small amount of sugar"?!

And it's in almost everything that comes out of a grocery store. So primarily for me it's things with refined sugar. I have bread on some occasions. And I drink orange juice.

But I sometimes double think myself if I am a hypchondriac, because of the viciousness of a flare from some cherries Garcia, or fig newtons. ...... Actually I start out with 4 fig newtons, and always end up finishing the pack within the day.

When I was first diagnosed with PMR and flaring everyday or every other, and decided to by process of elimination to methodically pair my diet down to protein, greens, and
grains .... when I stopped sugar it was an immediately obvious reduction in the frequency of pains.
When my wife and I decided to empty everything in our pantry with sugar, .... It was absurd. Even the frozen pizza has sugar.
The poisoning of society by the advertising industry for alcohol, to tobacco, and sugar is another forum though!

Jump to this post

Its unbelievable. And the thickening agent they use is another version.. maltoDextrin. Nasty.

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nancy53 | @nancy53 | May 9 8:25am
In reply to @stevieb "I keep forgetting to include this in other writings: Sugar. I have the most incredibly bad..." + (show)
@stevieb

I keep forgetting to include this in other writings:
Sugar.
I have the most incredibly bad flares, even when I consume a relatively small amount of sugar.
But who ever heard of consuming a "relatively small amount of sugar"?!

And it's in almost everything that comes out of a grocery store. So primarily for me it's things with refined sugar. I have bread on some occasions. And I drink orange juice.

But I sometimes double think myself if I am a hypchondriac, because of the viciousness of a flare from some cherries Garcia, or fig newtons. ...... Actually I start out with 4 fig newtons, and always end up finishing the pack within the day.

When I was first diagnosed with PMR and flaring everyday or every other, and decided to by process of elimination to methodically pair my diet down to protein, greens, and
grains .... when I stopped sugar it was an immediately obvious reduction in the frequency of pains.
When my wife and I decided to empty everything in our pantry with sugar, .... It was absurd. Even the frozen pizza has sugar.
The poisoning of society by the advertising industry for alcohol, to tobacco, and sugar is another forum though!

Jump to this post

You are absolutely right. Plus "sugar" is hidden on labels by calling it sucrose, maltose, lactose, galactose, and 50 other names.

I use a free app called YUKA that takes the guesswork out of reading labels. https://yuka.io/en/
You simply scan a bar code and the app will rate the product. Try it - you'll be amazed! If the app gives the product a bad rating, it offers alternatives.

Instead of cookies like fig newtons, I eat dates or Larabars. The fewer processed foods the better!

Good luck and feel better!

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Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | May 9 9:53am
In reply to @stevieb "I keep forgetting to include this in other writings: Sugar. I have the most incredibly bad..." + (show)
@stevieb

I keep forgetting to include this in other writings:
Sugar.
I have the most incredibly bad flares, even when I consume a relatively small amount of sugar.
But who ever heard of consuming a "relatively small amount of sugar"?!

And it's in almost everything that comes out of a grocery store. So primarily for me it's things with refined sugar. I have bread on some occasions. And I drink orange juice.

But I sometimes double think myself if I am a hypchondriac, because of the viciousness of a flare from some cherries Garcia, or fig newtons. ...... Actually I start out with 4 fig newtons, and always end up finishing the pack within the day.

When I was first diagnosed with PMR and flaring everyday or every other, and decided to by process of elimination to methodically pair my diet down to protein, greens, and
grains .... when I stopped sugar it was an immediately obvious reduction in the frequency of pains.
When my wife and I decided to empty everything in our pantry with sugar, .... It was absurd. Even the frozen pizza has sugar.
The poisoning of society by the advertising industry for alcohol, to tobacco, and sugar is another forum though!

Jump to this post

Hi @stevieb, I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled, "Sugar and PMR" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sugar-and-pmr/, a conversation started by @charlotte61.

@formerpaa70, @nancy53, and @pb50 have all chimed in on this topic as well.

REPLY
1 reply
stevieb | @stevieb | May 9 10:47am
In reply to @JustinMcClanahan "Hi @stevieb, I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled, "Sugar and..." + (show)
@JustinMcClanahan

Hi @stevieb, I moved your discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled, "Sugar and PMR" - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sugar-and-pmr/, a conversation started by @charlotte61.

@formerpaa70, @nancy53, and @pb50 have all chimed in on this topic as well.

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Thanks so much!
The topic is indeed charged, and can go on legitimate tangents (at least by me!).
I'm glad to see lifestyle choices high on the attention of others.

s.

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1 reply
pb50 | @pb50 | May 9 1:57pm
In reply to @stevieb "Thanks so much! The topic is indeed charged, and can go on legitimate tangents (at least..." + (show)
@stevieb

Thanks so much!
The topic is indeed charged, and can go on legitimate tangents (at least by me!).
I'm glad to see lifestyle choices high on the attention of others.

s.

Jump to this post

Well in the spirit of candor, I’m mostly a “do as I suggest - not as I necessarily do” type. That said, I’m fairly stringent about sugar in its many forms. I have 12 years of RA and there’s no question sugar increases inflammation.

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